Xie Luohe, however, was incredibly enthusiastic. After the archery range was built, she would leave town every day before dawn, carrying her new bow and riding her camel, Xiaomo.
When Zheng Xiu woke up, he would find hot steamed buns and goat's milk on the table, but she would be nowhere in sight.
'Let her be.'
Zheng Xiu found it harder and harder to fathom what Xie Luohe was thinking.
While Xie Luohe was away, Zheng Xiu spent a few days thoroughly cleaning Mohe Pavilion. He selected a fine piece of poplar wood in town, stripped the bark and smoothed it himself, then used a small knife to carve the two words "Mohe Pavilion" onto the brand-new plaque.
'Gongsun Mo... Xie Luohe...'
The two words, carved with considerable flair, were finished. Zheng Xiu's gaze lingered on the 'Mo' and 'He' within the name, and a strange feeling stirred in his heart. With a self-deprecating laugh, he brought over a ladder and hung up the new plaque.
